MYSTERIOUS: 5 - What They Never Told You

New laws to reduce use of short prison sentences expected within weeks

Courts will be given greater powers to attach conditions to non-custodial sentences.

Evening Standard · Aug 24, 2025

The biggest problem for Starmer and co: the machinery of government is broken and they can’t fix it

The prisons crisis is symptomatic of a dysfunctional system that is defeating these ministers as badly as those before them, says Guardian columnist Martin Kettle

The Guardian - UK · Aug 7, 2025

Number of drones seen around jails rises to record high, figures show

Figures published for the first time reveal drone incidents in prisons rose to 1,712 in the year to March.

Evening Standard · Jul 31, 2025

Tech firms suggested placing trackers under offenders’ skin at meeting with justice secretary

Exclusive: Shabana Mahmood told companies she wanted ‘deeper collaboration’ to tackle prisons crisis

The Guardian - UK · Jul 1, 2025

Legal aid lawyers face chaos following cyber attack, says representative body

Chris Minnoch, of the Legal Aid Practitioners Group, said lawyers have called the representative body ‘in tears’ over the situation.

Evening Standard · Jun 10, 2025

‘Essex Boys’ triple killer Michael Steele released from prison

Steele was jailed for life in 1998 for the killings of Tony Tucker, Pat Tate and Craig Rolfe.

Evening Standard · Jun 1, 2025

‘Essex Boys’ triple killer released from prison

Michael Steele has been behind bars since 1998

The Independent UK · Jun 1, 2025

Prosecutors, police and doctors to be scrutinised in Nottingham attacks probe

The Government has committed to the inquiry being completed within two years.

Evening Standard · May 22, 2025

Mahmood warns of stark choices for prison reform to ensure ‘worthy’ system

The Justice Secretary told The Times the current state of prisons is a ‘horrible reality’.

Evening Standard · May 20, 2025

Legal aid hack: data from hundreds of thousands of people accessed, says MoJ

Data including criminal records downloaded in ‘significant’ cyber-attack at Legal Aid Agency in April, ministry confirms

The Guardian - UK · May 19, 2025